St George Hospital in Kogarah will undergo a $180 million expansion of its emergency department, NSW Health Minister announced today, with the upgrade expected to double the facility’s capacity and establish a dedicated trauma centre for Sydney’s southern suburbs.

The expansion addresses years of overcrowding at one of Sydney’s busiest emergency departments, which services residents from the St George, Sutherland, and Canterbury-Bankstown regions.

What the Expansion Includes

The project, scheduled for completion in 2028, involves:

Emergency Department Upgrade

• 80 treatment spaces (up from current 42)
• 12 dedicated resuscitation bays
• Separate paediatric emergency area with child-friendly design
• Mental health assessment unit with private consultation rooms

New Trauma Centre

• Purpose-built trauma facility meeting Level 1 standards
• Helipad upgrade to accommodate larger rescue helicopters
• Integrated imaging suite adjacent to trauma bays
• Dedicated trauma operating theatres

Support Infrastructure

• 200 additional staff parking spaces
• Upgraded ambulance bay accommodating 8 vehicles simultaneously
• New waiting areas with improved amenities
• Expanded pathology and imaging services

Why This Matters

St George Hospital’s emergency department treated 78,000 patients last financial year, a 15% increase from five years ago. On busy nights, ambulances have been forced to queue outside while beds are cleared.

“The people of southern Sydney deserve world-class emergency care close to home,” said Health Minister Dr. Amanda Collins. “This investment ensures that for generations to come.”

Dr. Priya Sharma, St George Hospital’s Director of Emergency Medicine, welcomed the announcement. “Our staff work incredibly hard in a facility that wasn’t designed for current demand. This expansion will allow us to provide the care our community needs without the compromises we currently face.”

Construction Impact

The hospital will remain fully operational throughout construction, though some services may be temporarily relocated. Construction staging has been designed to minimise disruption to the surrounding Kogarah community.

Key considerations include:

• Construction traffic will primarily use Gray Street access
• Night works will be minimised in residential areas
• Temporary parking arrangements for staff will be implemented
• Regular community updates via hospital newsletter

Local Employment

The project is expected to create over 400 construction jobs during the three-year build, with local contractors encouraged to tender for subcontracting work.

Once operational, the expanded facility will require approximately 150 additional clinical staff, including emergency physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. NSW Health has committed to a recruitment campaign targeting both local graduates and international health workers.

Community Response

Georges River Council Mayor Kevin Lin welcomed the announcement as “long overdue recognition” of the region’s healthcare needs. “Our community has been advocating for this upgrade for over a decade. It’s wonderful to see it finally happening.”

Local resident Patricia Wong, who spent eight hours in the emergency waiting room with her elderly mother earlier this year, expressed relief: “The staff were wonderful, but you could see they were overwhelmed. Hopefully this means no one has to wait that long again.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, with the first stage of the expanded emergency department opening in early 2028.